Ezekiel 18

All 32 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

Read Ezekiel 18 in the Bible reader, with audio →

1. 1The word of the LORD came to me again:
2. 2"Why do you keep repeating this proverb about the land of Israel: 'The fathers ate sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
3. 3"As surely as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "you will never use this proverb in Israel again.
4. 4Every soul belongs to me — the father's soul and the son's soul alike are mine. The soul that sins is the one that will die.
5. 5"Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right.
6. 6He has not eaten upon the mountains, or lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He has not defiled his neighbor's wife or come near a woman during her period.
7. 7He hasn't oppressed anyone. He returns what a borrower puts up as collateral. He doesn't rob people. He gives food to the hungry and clothing to those who have none.
8. 8He doesn't lend money at interest or demand extra in return. He keeps his hands clean of wrongdoing and judges fairly between people.
9. 9He follows my statutes and carefully obeys my laws, dealing honestly in everything. That man is righteous — he will certainly live," declares the Lord GOD.
10. 10Suppose he has a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, and does any of these things:
11. 11He does none of the good things his father did. Instead, he eats at the mountain shrines and sleeps with his neighbor's wife.
12. 12He oppresses the poor and needy, takes things by force, refuses to return collateral, worships idols, and commits disgusting acts.
13. 13He lends money at interest and takes extra. Should he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he will surely die, and his blood will be upon him.
14. 14Now, suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, thinks about them, and does not do the same things.
15. 15He has not eaten at the mountain shrines, nor has he lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and he has not defiled his neighbor's wife.
16. 16He doesn't oppress anyone, doesn't hold on to collateral, and doesn't rob people. Instead, he gives food to the hungry and clothing to those who have none.
17. 17He has refrained from oppressing the poor, has not charged interest or taken extra, has obeyed my laws, and followed my statutes. He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live.
18. 18But his father — because he was a cruel oppressor who robbed his own people and did what was wrong among them — he will die for his own sin.
19. 19"Yet you ask, 'Why shouldn't the son pay for his father's sin?' Because the son did what was lawful and right and carefully kept all my statutes — that's why he will certainly live.
20. 20The soul that sins is the one that will die. A son won't be punished for his father's sin, and a father won't be punished for his son's sin. The righteous person's righteousness belongs to him alone, and the wicked person's wickedness belongs to him alone.
21. 21"But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he will certainly live. He won't die.
22. 22None of the sins he committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he now practices, he will live.
23. 23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?" declares the Lord GOD. "Don't I want him to turn from his ways and live?
24. 24"But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits sin, doing the same disgusting things a wicked person does, should he live? None of the righteous things he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
25. 25Yet you say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' Listen now, house of Israel: Is my way not fair? Are not your ways unfair?
26. 26When a righteous person turns away from doing right and commits sin, he will die because of it. He dies because of the sin he has committed.
27. 27On the other hand, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has practiced and does what is lawful and right, he will save his own soul.
28. 28Because he thought it over and turned away from all the sins he had committed, he will certainly live. He won't die.
29. 29Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the LORD is not equal.' O house of Israel, are my ways not equal? Are your ways not unequal?
30. 30Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.
31. 31Throw off all your transgressions, by which you have transgressed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why would you choose to die, house of Israel?
32. 32I take no pleasure in anyone's death," declares the Lord GOD. "So turn back and live!